[social_warfare]
If you've considered buying an air purifier, but money has held you back, air ionizers are more affordable. I'm here to help you make an informed decision on the best ionizer air purifier for you with a guide to the best ones out there and why they've made it here.
Best Ionizer Air Purifier
- Ivation 5-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier
- Airthereal MA5000 Commercial Generator
- PureMate 5 IN 1 Multiple Technology PM 510
- Pure Enrichment 4-in-1 Air Purifier
- Pro Breeze 5-in-1
- MOOKA True HEPA+ Smart Air Purifier
The 6 Best Ionizer Air Purifiers in 2021
1. Ivation 5-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier
The Ivation Air Purifier features two air cleaning systems that greatly complement each other: an air ionizer and a generator of ozone. Despite its reliance on both technologies, you can adjust each separately to your liking.
The result of this combined technology is an air cleaner that improves the air quality of your home by targeting cigarette smoke, pets odors, cooking odors, and airborne chemicals.
The ozone pump releases fresh air, which is quite reinvigorating. Therefore, it's a 2-in-1 air ionizer and odor remover. Moreover, it manages to do so efficiently in small and big places up to 3500 square feet with an output of 360 mg per hour.
One of the most impressive features of this air ionizer is its durability and style. It's compact and lightweight, and it has exquisite style with its cherry wood exterior and durable stainless steel cabinet. Therefore, this ionizer won’t look out of place in an office or at home.
Still, there are some concerns about this air purifier. The first complaint is with regards to the replacement parts, which are rather costly. Another concerns the glass parts that may fog up. Finally, it isn't as efficient as air cleaners with filtration systems at ridding the air of dust and other allergens.
Pros:
- Great purification system
- Suitable for big spaces
- Compact, durable, and stylish
Cons:
- Expensive parts
- Glass parts fog
- Not as efficient as a purifier with a filter
2. Airthereal MA5000 Commercial Generator 
Airthereal MA5000's ozone generator eradicates offensive odors, pathogens, molds from used car boots, old apartments, houses, pets, smoking, wildfire, and more. This odor remover can be effective for 1000 square feet with the output of 5000 mg/h of ozone.
That's the size of a medium-sized basement, which makes it ideal for use in smoking areas, garages, and basements.
Another feature that I appreciate about this ionic air purifier is how user-friendly it is. It even has a built-in timer that you can set for up to 2 hours by turning a knob, facilitating operations significantly –– the same knob functions as an on/off key, too. In fact, you can operate this device using just that simple knob.
This is one of the more affordable ionizers on our list. However, the cheap cost comes with drawbacks. The quality of the room air is less than adequate. The ozone plate's life span amounts to 5000 hours/2 years, which is shorter than the others. This can only be turned on in unoccupied places, so avoid being in the room as it's being treated.
Our biggest issue with this air ionizer is its potentially unsafe ozone levels. They're not high enough to make it to the California Air Resources Board's list of hazardous ozone generators, but they're not low enough to be shipped to California either.
Pros:
- Effective odor eliminator
- User-friendly
- Affordable
Cons:
- Possibly risky ozone levels
- Not ideal air cleaning
- Short plate life span
3. PureMate 5 IN 1 Multiple Technology PM 510 
The PureMate 5 In 1 Multiple Technology could just be the best air purifier on this list with its 5 stage filtration system. Between the true HEPA filter, the negative ionizer, UV germicidal lamp, active carbon filter, and TI02, up to 99.97% of allergens and air particles are filtered out.
Needless to say, the ionizer lightens your mood, ups your focus, and increases your alertness too. This is all the doing of the released negatively charged particles.
This air cleaner's central winning point is how user-friendly it is, thanks to the control panel's easy-to-use LCD display, the filter indicator, and the lamp indicator that notify you once they need to be changed. Besides, the built-in timer can be set for periods ranging from 1 to 8 hours.
This ionic air purifier makes very little noise. I’m talking no more than 20 dB –– so you won't have to put up with any buzzing sounds that disturb the serenity of your home.
An issue with the PureMate 5 In 1 is that it doesn't have a remote control, but its user-friendliness makes up for it. Another thing is that it only operates in small to medium-sized rooms of 400 square feet where the Ivation purifier could accommodate 3500 square feet.
Pros:
- Outstanding 5 stage filtration system
- User-friendly
- Mood elevator
- Little noise
Cons:
- No remote control
- Suits small and medium rooms only
4. Pure Enrichment 4-in-1 Air Purifier
The Pure Enrichment Purifier makes use of a 3 stage filtration system, plus an independent ionizer. The ionizer literally lays down the groundwork by laying down the airborne particles for the 4 cleaning levels or stages to clear them out.
The sponge filter takes care of fungi, mold, and pet dander indoors. Then comes the HEPA filter to catch almost all the allergens. Finally, the high-quality carbon filter neutralizes any odors. Collectively, they purify the air of 99.3% of contaminants.
For satisfactory results, use this air cleaner in small and medium-sized rooms – like the Puremate 5 in 1 purifier.
Also, three different speed levels are available. Manufacturers encourage you to use the highest speed, but note that the ionic air purifier might make some noises as a result if you do. You can easily overcome this by adjusting it to sleep mode, though.
Pros:
- Effective 4 stage filtration system
- 3 different speed levels
- The timer can be set for 1 to 8 hours
Cons:
- Small and medium-sized rooms
- Can be noisy when using top speed
5. Pro Breeze 5-in-1 
Like the Puremate purifier, the Pro Breeze 5-in-1 features a five-stage filter system and a negative ion generator, so the air in your home is 99.97% free of dust, bacteria, and viruses.
The CADR is impressively high at 218 m3 per hour (128CFM), further confirming this ionic air purifier's quality and its eligibility for allergic people.
First, the air has to penetrate a pre-filter that entraps any large airborne particles. Second, the HEPA air purifier captures smaller particles. And to absorb any cooking odors or home impurities, the third filtration method, activated carbon filtration, comes in. The fourth and final filter, a cold catalyst filter, takes care of any lingering contaminants.
Aside from home use, this could just be one of the best air purifiers for office settings. Typically, plenty of office equipment emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and this air filter manages to rid you of that.
Despite its affordability, this purifier has many desirable features, including a timer and a night mode. And for its compact size, it can service big rooms: anything up to 500 square feet.
If I were to nitpick, I'd say that this device consumes more energy than other inexpensive air purifiers. And you'd have to place it away from walls or furniture too.
Pros:
- Impeccable air purification, great for allergies
- Good for offices
- Services small and big rooms
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not energy-efficient
6. MOOKA True HEPA+ Smart Air Purifier
Unlike most air cleaners, MOOKA uses a 6 stage filtration system. It's a HEPA air purifier with 99.97% effectiveness on small particles. It has a standard pre-filter to trap visible debris, an activated carbon filter to remove VOCs, an ionizer to eradicate foul odors, and an ultraviolet sterilizer to deconstruct microorganisms with UV light technology.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the CADR rating is high for dust, pollen, and smoke: 300 AT 177CFM, and if you suffer from allergies, an ionic air purifier of this filtration might just be what the doctor ordered.
Not to mention, the air ionizer and ultraviolet sterilizer are optional, but if you turn the air ionizer on, do so in uninhabited rooms.
The air quality sensor is another feature that sets this apart from other ionic purifiers. If you turn the auto mode on, the sensor will detect the air's low quality in your home, and the motorized fan will purify the air.
Additionally, this air cleaner accommodates rooms between 160 and 540 sq ft, making it suitable for bedrooms, kitchens, basements, living rooms, or even hotel rooms.
MOOKA may produce more noises than you'd like, but you can avoid this by using sleep mode. This product makes less than 28 decibels of noise volume in sleep mode, which amounts to a whisper.
Pros:
- Hard-to-come-by 6 stage filtration system
- Recommended for those with allergies
- Air quality sensor
- Works for most rooms
Cons:
- Could be quieter
- High power (19watts) consumption
What To Look For in an Air Ionizer
Safe Ozone Output
Because as I always say: "safety first," especially when it comes to your home, a large amount of ozone is dangerous. Therefore, it's crucial that you check the gas output of an air cleaner and compare it to the recommended level.
A safe output for a home environment would be a maximum eight-hour average outdoor concentration of 0.08ppm ozone, as confirmed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
However, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggests a maximum of eight hours of 0.10 pm. In contrast, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) proposes the same value at any time.
What Manufacturers Aren't Telling You
To be accurate, it's what they're telling you that's a problem. Many manufacturers recommend sleeping next to ionic air purifiers. This is, however, risky. Even an ionizer that generates "safe" levels of ozone shouldn't be placed close to your head because that level will rise, causing you to breathe more of the gas that is recommended.
1+ Air Cleaning Technology
Ionization alone isn't efficient; it needs other cleaning technologies, such as High-Efficiency Particulate Air - HEPA filters. HEPA purifiers are invaluable, as they collect the bound particles by the ionizer so that they aren't once again released into the air.
Other air purifier technologies that you should look into are activated carbon air filters that eliminate chemical fumes and sterilizers that use UV -C light or UV light against mold, bacteria, and viruses.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
This number assesses how fast an air purifier can clean out dust and produce fresh air by volume. The higher the CADR, the more filtered out the air in your home is. CADR is also accompanied by three additional numbers representing the number of the main pollutants- smoke, pollen, and dust, by clear air in cubic feet.
If you multiply the CADR by 1.55, you'll have the square feet the purifier is suitable for on its highest fan setting.
Certified Room Sizing
This is very helpful, especially if you're not presented with the clean air delivery rate. This certified room size is that which the purifier can accommodate effectively on its highest setting.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
An air purifier certified by the AHAM is always a plus, as it tests how efficient the air purifier is at removing dust. This number can simplify many numbers for you, but it isn't mandatory that air purification systems are AHAM tested.
What Manufacturers Aren't Telling You
AHAM testing, in affinity to most tests, is done in labs or manufactured environments. These often don't contain as many surfaces that could potentially collect dust as a home environment. The traffic is much less than in your home as well, meaning that not as many allergens enter the room as they'd a natural environment.
Do Air Ionizers Really Work?
In simple terms, air purifiers work by generating negatively charged particles that attract positively charged particles. These positively charged particles are called allergens, non-hygienic particles that could potentially cause allergic reactions. They include dust, pollen, mold spores, even pet hair, and more.
Consequently, the negatively charged particles add electrical charges to the air molecules present in the room and bond with them, making them bigger and heavier. Hence, they can be easily trapped by the air purifier's filter or drop to the floor or fall on other surfaces, which entails that they're less likely to be inhaled and can be dusted or vacuumed.
Air ionizers aren't 100% efficient. For one, they can't collect many of the particles from the air. And they can't remove odors or kill fungi, some germs, and many viruses. For these reasons, I'd highly recommend that you buy an air purifier that doesn’t solely rely on ionization but uses more than one air cleaning technology.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Air Ionizer?
Bettering Your Physical Health
This is probably why you're looking into ionic air purifiers in the first place. These products purify the air in your home from dust, cigarette smoke, pollen, mold spores, some bacteria, and viruses, making it more fresh and healthy for you to inhale. This may improve your overall health in the long term.
Also, home air ionizers are especially relevant if you have asthma, hay fever, other seasonal allergies, or chemical sensitivities because maintaining the best air in your home means worrying less about health complications.
Boosting Your Mental Health
Ionizers release negatively charged particles into the air, which could improve your mental health. You may not be aware of this, so allow me to give you a little bit of background information.
Negative ions are said to promote relaxation, moderate your irritable mood, and improve your sleep pattern. However, there are more positive ions in our environment than negative ions, which is problematic because positive ions cause fatigue, heighten your tension level, and worsen your moods.
Therefore, ionic air purifiers can reduce static electricity, improve your mood and sleep schedule, and rid you of fatigue. After all, there's some truth to the saying that "you should get some fresh air" when you're in a bad mood.
If you find this hard to believe, just think of how you feel in the mountains, after heavy rainfall, near a body of water, or even after a shower. What is it precisely that brings about this reinvigoration? You guessed it: negatively ions.
Even more so, studies demonstrate that air ionizers could benefit individuals suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Why Is Ionized Air Bad for You?
During the air ionizer's electric discharge described previously, the negative ion discharge emits ozone as a by-product. This is a concern because high levels of it in indoor air can cause health complications, ranging from shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain to lung damage.
In fact, one of the first ionization technology products, Ionic Breeze by Sharper Image, caused Sharper Image to face a lawsuit and announce bankruptcy in 2008, following expressed concerns about the ozone amount its product released.
Nevertheless, this incident also pushed for a revision of federally-mandated standards (under the Clean Air Act) that restricted the amount of ozone an air ionizer could produce. And as a result, air ionizers today contain sensors that monitor and suppress high levels of ozone from being released into the air in your home.
There's no proven threat that should make ionized air harmful or stop you from using an ionizer today.
Conclusion
Between all these products, The MOOKA True HEPA+ Smart Air Purifier is arguably the best ionizer air purifier on this list. All the other ionic air purifiers feature a maximum of 5 filters, which are nothing compared to MOOKA's 6, from a pre-filter to a UV sterilizer. This device undeniably transforms the quality of your indoor air.
Furthermore, it can clean the air of small and large-sized rooms alike, where others, like the Puremate, can only filter out small or medium rooms.
Finally, the air quality sensor and auto mode are unmet in all other ionic air purifiers, automatically purifying your home air. Overall, MOOKA gives you the best features for a very reasonable price.
Additional Reading